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Subjects · Leaving Cert Music

Leaving Cert Music: Songs, airs & sean-nós

How often Songs, airs & sean-nós comes up on the Music papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 8 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Songs, airs & sean-nós, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Songs, airs & sean-nós.

(a)What kind of rhythm is typical of a sean-nós song?
  1. A strict march beat
  2. Free rhythm following the words
  3. A steady dance rhythm with a drum
(b)What type of song is a caoineadh?
  1. A work song
  2. A lullaby
  3. A lament
(c)How do sean-nós singers usually treat the verses of a song?
  1. They vary the ornamentation from verse to verse
  2. They add a harmony part in the later verses
  3. They sing every verse in exactly the same way
Show the answers

(a) Free rhythm following the words

(b) A lament

(c) They vary the ornamentation from verse to verse

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Songs, airs & sean-nós.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q5A, Q5Biii
2024Q5Biii
2023Q5A, Q5Bv
2022Q5A, Q5Biii
2021Q5A
2019Q5A
2018Q5A, Q5Bi
2017Q5A
2016Q5A, Q5Bi

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Songs, airs & sean-nós questions

Songs, airs & sean-nós, 2 marks

Iarla Ó Lionáird is best known as what?

  1. An uilleann piper from Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
  2. A céilí band leader from Tulla, Co. Clare
  3. A sean-nós singer from Cúil Aodha, Co. Cork
Show the answer

A sean-nós singer from Cúil Aodha, Co. Cork

Ó Lionáird grew up in the Cúil Aodha Gaeltacht and has sung sean-nós both in traditional settings and with fusion groups such as Afro Celt Sound System.

Songs, airs & sean-nós, 3 marks

Which region's sean-nós is usually described as the most heavily ornamented?

  1. Antrim
  2. Connemara
  3. Donegal
Show the answer

Connemara

Connemara singers use rich melismatic ornamentation. Ulster (Donegal) singing is usually plainer, with less ornament.

Songs, airs & sean-nós, 3 marks

What is an aisling song?

  1. A vision song in which Ireland appears as a beautiful woman
  2. A wedding song sung as the bride leaves her parents' home
  3. A song with no words, sung to nonsense syllables for dancing
Show the answer

A vision song in which Ireland appears as a beautiful woman

The aisling (vision) was popular in the 18th century. The poet meets a spirit woman who stands for Ireland and foretells better times.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 8 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q5
2024Not asked
2023Q5
2022Q5
2021Q5
2019Q5
2018Q5
2017Q5
2016Q5

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Songs, airs & sean-nós questions

Songs, airs & sean-nós, 2 marks

Sean-nós singing is usually performed how?

  1. By a choir with piano
  2. With a céilí band
  3. Solo and unaccompanied
Show the answer

Solo and unaccompanied

Sean-nós means old style. One singer sings with no accompaniment, usually in Irish, with rich ornamentation.

Songs, airs & sean-nós, 2 marks

In which language are most sean-nós songs sung?

  1. Latin
  2. Irish
  3. English
Show the answer

Irish

Sean-nós is closely linked to Gaeltacht areas such as Connemara, and most of the songs are in Irish.

Songs, airs & sean-nós, 2 marks

What kind of rhythm does sean-nós singing usually have?

  1. Free rhythm
  2. Strict march rhythm
  3. Waltz rhythm
Show the answer

Free rhythm

The singer shapes the rhythm to the words and the story, with no strict beat. Free rhythm is a key feature of sean-nós.

Other Music topics

All of Leaving Cert Music